Building creativity and independence through play (with Drew Vernon)

In this episode, I talk with Drew Vernon about how to help kids develop a natural sense of curiosity and ability to tell stories. Drew currently works for Tonies®, a toy brand that partners with schools to bring screen-free education to your children. He also spend several years working for the LEGO® Group, hosts a podcast with his 5-year old daughter, and has a passion for toys that help kids become creative thinkers. In our conversation, we discuss: ✅Ways to guide your kids through play in a way that builds storytelling skills and language. ✅The benefits of offering "screen-free" toys for you kids (with specific toy examples). ✅The pros and cons of many popular toy options for kids today. ✅Toy features that help build resilience and problem-solving skills. ✅How limitations can breed creativity (and how this applies to toys and play). In this episode, I mentioned the Time Tracking Journal, which is a SIMPLE tool that will help you get through daily routines (like homework) with ease, WITHOUT bribery, arguments, or constant hand-holding. The Time Tracking Journal walks you through a strategy you can do in just 10-15 minutes a day that will help kids get tasks done effectively and efficiently, and critical thinking skills and self-confidence at the same time. You can learn how to get instant access here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/time-tracking-journal-37-1/ The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding. 

Om Podcasten

On the De Facto Leaders podcast, host Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan helps pediatric therapists and educators become better leaders, so they can make a bigger impact with their services. With over 15 years of experience supporting school-age kids with diverse learning needs, Dr. Karen shares up-to-date evidence-based practices, her own experiences and guest interviews designed to help clinicians, teachers, and aspiring school leaders feel more confident in the way they serve their students and clients. She’ll cover a range of topics designed to help you support students' emotional and academic growth and set kids up for success in adulthood, including how to support language, literacy, executive functioning, and how to help IEP teams working together to support kids across the day. Whether you want to learn more effective strategies for your therapy session or classroom, be a more influential leader on your team, or find creative ways to use your skills to advance in your career, Dr. Karen has you covered.